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In the final wash-up, Adam Scott conceded he had no say in the Australian Open as Jordan Spieth pulled off an audacious hit-and-run assault on the Stonehaven Cup.
Scott claimed a share of the lead with a birdie on his opening hole on Sunday before a bogey and double-bogey in successive holes on the front nine effectively put paid to his title prospects.
The world No.3 eventually closed with an even-par 71 to finish outright fifth at four under par for the championship, a distant nine strokes adrift of Spieth.
Hoping to atone for last year’s one-shot loss to Rory McIlroy at Royal Sydney, Scott thought he was still a chance even after failing to save par from a greenside bunker on the par-3 fourth and then making a meal of the par-5 fifth.
“I wasn’t too far back, not at all,” he said.
“I thought I was in with a chance going to the back nine, but Jordan’s back nine is incredible and that took care of that.
“Jordan had his way with the golf course today and I can’t do much about that.
“It just wasn’t to be.”
With Spieth carding a course-record eight-under-par 63, Scott would have had to shoot 62 to beat the 21-year-old American ace.
“It is surprising but you’re talking about one of the best players in the world,” Scott said.
“But when things go your way, there is no limit to what guys can shoot when you drive it long.
“Jordan’s wedge game is super and he putts great. I watched him hole everything for a couple of days in the first two rounds.
“He’s proven he is a top-20 player. He is incredibly consistent and I think now he needs to surge. Now is when he needs to push himself and expect a lot.”
After a horror front-nine five-over-par 40 in the first round on Thursday, Scott had all the momentum early on Sunday after clawing his way into the lead for the first time all tournament.
But his dreaded double on the fifth was the beginning of the end.
He had to take a penalty drop for an unplayable lie after blocking his tee shot into jungle and then hooked backed into trees on the left.
Scott punched out through a narrow opening but was unable to get up and down.
Five behind Spieth at that point and playing catch-up, there was no way back for the 2013 Masters champion.
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